MINSK, 16 April (BelTA) – Belarus' Labor and Social Security Minister Irina Kostevich and Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister Ivan Lavrinovich got a shot of the first Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine rolled out by the Belarusian pharmaceutical company Belmedpreparaty, BelTA informs citing the ministry.
The minister emphasized that vaccination is the most important contributor to the fight against the coronavirus infection. Work is underway to vaccinate social security workers along with health workers. “Vaccines have been delivered to 75% of the elderly and disabled people living in care homes and more than 40% of the staff. Today we run 92 care homes and 64 facilities providing round-the-clock care at community social services centers (or the so-called mini care homes),” Irina Kostevich said.
She also noted that the transition to rotational work in care homes proved effective. “Belarusian care homes accommodate 20,000 elderly and disabled people. Last year, the work of these facilities was re-arranged. We switched to a rotational method that has proved effective, and we have survived the first and second waves of the coronavirus infection,” Irina Kostevich said.
A total of 146 community social services centers help the elderly and the disabled at home. They employ almost 20,000 people, including 12,000 people who provide social services at home: social workers and nurses.
“My task as a minister who is fully aware of the importance of vaccination is to ensure easy access to vaccination for our employees and people whom we help,” Irina Kostevich said.
